The Spirit of Bandera—An Experiment in Inter-Agency Team-Building

An experiment to improve intergovernmental cooperation in water resources planning and management was initiated by the Southwestern Division, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, in 1988 at Bandera, Texas. Four Federal agencies and Texas Parks and Wildlife Department came together in a team-building experience. These agencies initiated a 2-day team briefing session facilitated and led by a specialist in interpersonal relationships. The exercise facilitated professional cooperation leading to a better product and more productive use of tax dollars.